A new political party was founded in Ventspils this Thursday, 21 September. The name of this new party is Laiks Pārmaiņām (Time for Changes). The initiator of the founding of this new party is Baltic Association – Transport and Logistics President Inga Antāne.

The board of this new party will consist of Linards Gulbis, Ingrīda Gradkovska, Alīna Rugine and Inese Caunīte. Inga Antāne will serve as the chairperson of the party’s board.

The goal of the new party is reforming Latvia as a self-sufficient country that is able to use the work of its residents, accomplishments in science, technologies and finances, as well as its favourable geographical location to sustain itself and work towards development of the country in the interest of residents’ needs and interests, as mentioned in the political party’s announcement.

The party’s representatives also want to use Latvia’s geographical location to improve development for the entire country and Ventspils. «Our goal is making Latvia a green country – with a clean environment, clean air, rich forests and clean waters. We also want to develop Latvia as a country that is not reliant on other countries’ banks or favourable policies in energy and other sectors.»

Currently Laiks Pārmaiņām is formed as a regional party. The party’s manifest was signed at the party’s foundation congress by founders from other regions – Daugavpils, Saldus, Talsi, Kuldiga, Riga, Liepaja and other cities and regions.

«Why is a new political power needed? The time has come for changes in Latvia. Changes are desperately needed for the country’s development. But to accomplish changes, the entire population, not just select politicians, should be involved in political processes. More than 400,000 people have left our country in the twenty five years of Latvia’s independence. If 600,000 Latvian residents, including small children, are forced to live on the brink of poverty, we have no right to stand on the side lines and watch. It would mean committing a crime against our country, our parents, children and ourselves,» says Antāne.

She adds that her party wants changes that will help residents who left the country to return home, changes that will give them confidence that every cent paid in taxes will be spent in the country’s best interest. «We want to realize the kind of changes that won’t have people gather in protests against poverty, changes that will ensure Latvians do not live half-starved, changes that will make sure quality and timely healthcare is not a privilege for the rich.»

Founders of the party also predict that offices will be opened in Kurzeme, Vidzeme, Zemgale and Latgale soon, because the entire country needs changes.

Antāne also admits that she did not expect people to respond so quickly to her invitation, which was not advertised using massive and expensive campaigns. «Word of mouth spread the news. Such a large number of people showed on the first day that we can say safely that it is now a party, and we will do everything we can for the good of Latvia!»

Leave a reply

In a breakthrough in the Brexit talks, the UK gave its consent on Monday to an agreement with the European Union that a tangible border would not be established between British-ruled Northern Ireland and Ireland to have the bloc agree to retain most EU advantages for close to two years leaving the union.

In January 2017, Latvia experienced one of the most rapid export increases among EU member states when compared to the same month of the previous year, according to data published by Eurostat on Monday, 19 March.

Data compiled by International Data Corporation shows: every third illegally downloaded software programme is infected with malicious software. Nevertheless, 69% of consumers and 33% of businesses in Europe procure computers with software from unsafe sources.

Higher prices of oil have allowed the Russian economy to recover despite European Union's and U.S. sanctions and in time to benefit the Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has secured his next term in office.

In 2017, there were 17.0 thousand job vacancies in Latvia, which was 2.6 thousand vacancies or 17.9 % more than in 2016. In public sector there were 6.1 thousand job vacancies van in private sector 10.9 thousand vacancies.

Cosmetics producers in Latvia export products worth EUR 20 million every year. Volumes increase 5% every year. The main export partner states are located in Europe. Still, there has been a significant increase of export volumes to third countries – to some countries this increase was as large as 60% -70%, according to data from Latvian Cosmetic Manufacturers Association.

American Chamber of Commerce in Latvia (ACCL): «We are concerned that Latvian society’s and its government’s political culture has not changed much since the publication of information detailing events associated with Ridzene talks in 2009-2011. The state capture detailed there may still be possible...

On Monday, 19 March, weather in Latvia will change, as a low atmospheric pressure area together with an atmospheric front will approach the country from the north. The day will be sunny for the most part, but the amount of clouds will increase as hours go by, as reported by State Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre.

In a reaction to Russia's announcement that it would expel 23 British diplomats from Moscow as part of the UK-Russia argument over poisoning of double-agent in an English city, Ukrainian Foreign Minister has suggested to his British counterpart that the 23 diplomats could now work in Ukraine.

Aivars Lembergs, who is accused of serious crimes and is currently suspended from his post as chairman of Ventspils City Council, had proposed his candidacy for the post of prime minister of Latvia multiple times in the past. The moment has come at long last when Lembergs will not be an official candidate for the aforementioned post, as BNN was told by the leader of Union of Greens and Farmers’ Saeima faction Augusts Brigmanis.

Despite the current demanding security situation, in the NATO military alliance, no more than three member states of the European Union have reached the recommended defence spending sum in 2017 and Estonia is one of them.

Russian President Vladimir Putin been announced as the winner of the Sunday, March 18, presidential election, as the politician has pledged to devote his new term in office to strengthen Russia’s defences against the West and to improve the quality of life.

Some 5,000 people gathered outside the Lithuanian parliament in Vilnius on Thursday, March 15, to express discontent with the failed parliamentary vote to impeach MP Mindaugas Bastys and the performance of the ruling Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union.

The Legionnaires’ remembrance procession in Riga on Friday, 16 March, passed peacefully. Nevertheless, several conflicts did take place among differently-minded people near the Freedom Monument. Two individuals were arrested by police.

In Latvia, 36% of small and medium-sized companies have plans to invest in the development of their business this year. In Estonia and Lithuania, on the other hand, the proportion of businesses with development plans is 42% and 46%, respectively, according to results of a recent study performed by SEB Bank.

Russian top diplomat in the UK has envisaged on Friday, March 16, that the Kremlin would use maximum pressure on London as Moscow insists it has not been involved in the poisoning of a former Russian-British double agent with a Russian-made chemical weapon, as has been found by British investigators.

18 March 2018 will mark four years since the Russian Federation violated Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity by annexing the Crimean Peninsula and causing military aggression in the country’s eastern region. With its actions the Russian Federation has violated international law and basic principles of international relation, says Latvia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Continuing the works on the Balticconnector gas pipeline between Estonia and Finland, the Estonian natural gas network company Elering has stated that around 135 million euros, including a 98-million-euro funding from the European Union, will be invested in the project.